Please include a statement that explains the significant personal, professional, or academic experiences that have contributed to your decision to study law. There is no required length, however most personal statements are approximately two pages long. You are required double-space your personal statement.

Consistent with the American Bar Association, Boston University School of Law believes that knowledge about bias, cross-cultural competency (ability to understand people from different backgrounds and engage with them effectively), and racism are central to the legal profession. Please tell us how your education, training, or experience has deepened your knowledge about "bias, cross-cultural competency, and racism" and/or prepared you to explore these topics at BU Law.

Please use this attachment to upload any other information you would like considered by the Admissions Committee.

If you have been separated from any branch of the armed forces of the United States, the Peace Corps, Teach for America, or any other service organization under conditions other than honorable please include copies of all relevant discharge documents.

If you are applying to the Public Interest Scholarship, please attach an essay (2 page maximum) describing your public interest career goals and focus. The selection committee will have access to your personal statement and the rest of your application for admission, so you should use the scholarship essay as an opportunity to provide additional evidence of your commitment to public service. Do not repeat your personal statement. The committee aims to award the scholarship to applicants who will become leaders in the BU Law public interest community, and who will pursue public interest career paths. This commitment can be demonstrated through prior public service work experience (not necessarily legal in nature), engagement in public service during your undergraduate education, and post-graduate service and volunteer work. Applicants who have chosen to apply for the ASPIRE: Antiracist Scholarship may not apply for the Public Interest Scholarship.

If you are applying to the ASPIRE: Antiracist Scholarship, please attach one document with separated responses to the two prompts: What does antiracism mean to you, and how have your life experiences shaped your commitment to antiracism? In your answer, in addition to professional experiences (if any) please draw from your lived experiences, whether as a member of an underrepresented or marginalized group, as an advocate, and/or as an ally. (Word limit: 350 words)

How do you envision using your antiracist education and training in your legal career, whether it be in the private, governmental, or public interest sectors? (Word limit: 250 words)

Do not repeat your personal statement. The committee aims to award the scholarship to applicants who demonstrate a commitment to antiracism, social justice, and racial equity, with preference given to those underrepresented in the legal field. Applicants who have chosen to apply for the Public Interest Scholarship may not apply for the ASPIRE: Antiracist Scholarship.

A current résumé is required of all applicants. Your résumé should reflect all full-time and part-time employment, both paid and unpaid, and all extracurricular activities and honors. Please format your résumé in reverse chronological order, with the most recent employment at the top. Do not include high school activities or awards in your résumé. Include your current activities, whether you are currently employed or unemployed. There is no required length for the résumé.

A gap of three months or more in the timeline of your résumé should be explained with an addendum.

If the answer to any of the following questions is yes, please provide a detailed explanation, including a summary of the allegations and any sentence imposed. The Admissions Committee may require copies of court documents in addition to your explanation. NOTE: Bar examiners may require other information that we are not permitted to seek under Massachusetts statutes.

1. Have you ever been convicted, without such conviction being vacated, of a misdemeanor for which the sentence was imprisonment?
2. Have you ever been convicted, without such conviction being vacated, of a felony?
3. Have you been convicted of any misdemeanor within the past five years?* *Other than a first conviction for drunkenness, simple assault, speeding, minor traffic violations, affray, or disturbance of the peace.

1. Have you ever been separated from any branch of the armed forces of the United States, the Peace Corps, Teach for America, or any other service organization under conditions other than honorable? If yes, please include an explanation along with copies of all relevant discharge documents electronically (please provide an explanation in the box below and upload relevant documents in the Military Discharge attachment section).

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

Answer the following questions “yes” or “no” (use “no” if not applicable). If your answer is “yes,” provide an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the event in the space provided.

1. Has there ever been an interruption of one or more terms in your education for any reason?
2. Have you ever been subject to disciplinary action or proceedings for academic misconduct, or subject to any action for academic insufficiency, at any college or university you have attended? * You should answer yes to this question even if no record of disciplinary action exists.
3. Have you ever been subject to disciplinary action or proceedings for personal misconduct at any college or university you have attended? * You should answer yes to this question even if no record of disciplinary action exists.

Dear applicant,

We are delighted that you have chosen to apply to Boston University School of Law, and we look forward to working with you over the coming weeks and months. Please read the following application instructions carefully, and do not hesitate to contact our office whenever you have questions or concerns.

Sincerely, Anne Taylor Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid

Boston University School of Law Admissions Office 765 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA 02215 bulawadm@bu.edu (617) 353-3100

Application Instructions

Eligibility

Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, or be enrolled in a course of study that will result in the award of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university before commencing study at BU Law. Accepted students matriculate only in the fall semester on a full-time basis.

When to Apply

Application opens: September 1, 2026 Deadline to submit a regular decision application: April 1, 2027 Distinguished Scholars Binding Early Decision Program deadline: Complete application deadline of November 9, 2026 BU Bound Binding Decision Program deadline: Complete application deadline of February 1, 2027 ASPIRE: Antiracist Scholarship deadline: Complete application deadline of January 5, 2027 Public Interest Scholarship deadline: Complete application deadline of January 5, 2027 Boston University has a rolling admissions process. We review applications and make decisions beginning in late fall and continue throughout the spring. The time required to review and render a decision on each application varies. Application Checklist: More detailed information on the application process can be found on our website.

Online Application. Applications must be submitted online via the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Standardized Test Scores. All applicants are required to apply with an LSAT score unless you have received prior permission to apply with a GRE score. LSAT: We recommend that you take the LSAT no later than January 2027. A score is reportable for up to five testing years after the testing year in which the score is earned. LSAT testing years run from July 1 through June 30. See LSAC.org for more information. The Admissions Committee will view all test dates and scores, with the highest considered in admission review. If you have indicated a future LSAT test date your application will be held for review until we receive that score. GRE: You may only apply with a GRE score if you meet all the criteria below and you have received prior permission from the Admissions Office. You have completed the GRE Request Form and received approval and you have never taken the LSAT and you do not plan to take the LSAT before September 2027 and you are not applying for one of our binding decision programs, all of which require an LSAT score. LSAC Credential Assembly Services (CAS) Report. All applicants must register with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS) during the current processing year. A transcript from each college or university attended must be sent directly to LSAC, not BU Law. LSAC will produce a complete CAS Law School Report. If you have a graduate degree or are pursuing a graduate degree you must submit your graduate transcripts through LSAC to complete your application. Two Letters of Recommendation. Two letters of recommendation (submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service) are required. You may submit up to three letters of recommendation. You MUST use the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service for all of your recommendations. Personal Statement. Your personal statement should discuss the significant personal, professional, or academic experiences that have contributed to your decision to study law. Most personal statements are approximately two pages long. Please double-space your personal statement. Résumé. Your résumé should reflect all full-time and part-time employment, both paid and unpaid, and all extracurricular activities and honors. Please indicate on your résumé whether any employment was full or part-time, and paid or unpaid. Please format your résumé in reverse chronological order, with the most recent employment at the top. Please do not include high school activities or awards in your résumé. There is no required length for the résumé. Gaps of three months or more in the timeline of your résumé should be explained with an addendum. $85 Application Fee. A non-refundable application fee is required of all applicants. You will pay by credit card when applying electronically. If you have received a fee waiver from LSAC, you also qualify for an application fee waiver from Boston University School of Law. To request a need-based fee waiver follow the directions found here. A fee waiver can only be granted prior to submitting your application. Test of English as a Foreign Language (if applicable). To determine if a TOEFL or IELTS score is required, please visit our website. Optional Essay (if applicable). Consistent with the American Bar Association, Boston University School of Law believes that knowledge about bias, cross-cultural competency (ability to understand people from different backgrounds and engage with them effectively), and racism are central to the legal profession. Please tell us how your education, training, or experience has deepened your knowledge about "bias, cross-cultural competency, and racism" and/or prepared you to explore these topics at BU Law. Addenda or Supplemental Statements (if applicable). This includes information on Character and Fitness, statements regarding previous law school attendance, statements explaining gaps in employment, or any other information you think would be useful to the Admissions Committee. Binding Decision Contract (if applicable). If you are applying to one of our two binding decision programs please submit the signed contract along with your completed application. ASPIRE: Antiracist Scholarship (if applicable). If you are applying to the ASPIRE: Antiracist Scholarship you must submit a response to the prompts detailed in the ASPIRE attachment instructions. Attach this submission to your application describing your demonstrated commitment to antiracism, social justice, and racial equity. Public Interest Scholarship Essay (if applicable). If you are applying to the Public Interest Scholarship you must attach an essay (two page maximum) to your application for admission describing your public interest career goals and how your past experience has informed your commitment to a public interest career. Reapplying to BU Law

If you have previously applied to Boston University School of Law, you must complete a new application online via LSAC. You must pay the $85 application fee and submit a new CAS Law School Report, and résumé. The Admissions Office keeps the previous three years of applications on file and will supplement your current file with archived documents if reapplication occurs within this timeframe.

Financing Your Studies

BU Law is committed to making a legal education affordable for its students. Please visit the Financial Aid website for complete, up-to-date information on merit and need-based aid, as well as our scholarship programs.